Wonderfully autumnal, this is a Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir with soul, depth and a comforting embrace. It's an excellent wine, hands down.
From a vineyard planted 350 metres above to the 777 clone, it saw eight months in French oak (33% new).
Winemaker Brian Croser says the 2024 will go down as one of the smallest crops in his 56 vintages, less the 1983 bushfires. Despite its tiny quantity, its power, shape and structure build a compelling case all at 12.7% alcohol.
There is more red fruit present here than the Definitus 2022 that it was tasted alongside, but that is barely a fair comparison - two different wines, two different vintages, but both superb.
The intensity of the Foggy Hill cannot be understated. Voluminous but fabulously cool-climate, be allured by an abundance of red cherries, strawberries, rhubarb, blood orange, tea leaves, tilled earth, dried leaves and pine needles. Woodsy spices and five spice reach out and just hang - beautiful. Above all, the complexity unfolds in seamless fashion and draws you closer with quiet ease. The brilliance of the winemaker is in full cry and shining like a beacon despite the challenging year.
95/100
Region: Fleurieu PeninsulaSource: Sample
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